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I have slowly transformed my small suburban garden into a haven for wildlife with overgrown areas, hedges and ponds and, each night, am visited by Badgers. A few peanuts is a small price to pay to be able to watch these enigmatic animals at close range as they snuffle around sniffing out food and interacting with each other. The ponds provide drinking water and, after seeing the possibility of getting reflection images, I spent a couple of weeks refining my technique.
For this image I sat on the opposite side of the pond, my tripod low with a bag hide wrapped around to hide my shape. This small group were happily sniffing around, the youngest was watching me with interest.
Although I see them most nights, I have no idea where they go once they leave the garden and despite them living in a suburban area, most people have no idea they are even there. For me this adds another element to their mystery.
Badgers are facing a tough time in the UK at the moment with culls active in many places across the country. I’d like to think that my tiny haven compensates in some small way.
Nikon D7200 + 70-200mm f2.8 lens at 122mm, 1/125 sec at f13.0; ISO 800.
2x Nikon SB600 flash units off camera with Pocket Wizard Plus X units. Gitzo tripod.
Adjustments – cropped, tone and contrast, exposure, noise reduction, sharpening.

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